Helmets 101 – A Few Things You Need to Know

A motorcycle helmet by definition is a type of protective headgear used by motorcycle riders. The primary goal is motorcycle safety – to protect the rider’s head during impact, thus preventing or reducing head injury or saving the rider’s life. If selecting a motorcycle helmet were this easy…. but we all know there is so much more. If you are looking for protection from a helmet, you must purchase a DOT or Snell Certified helmet. If you are looking to pacify local laws, you can purchase a non-certified helmet, but your protection considerably decreases. All styles(Full face, 3/4, half helmet, and novelty helmets) are available from K and G Cycles (www.kandgcycles.com) at great prices, so head over to the website and pick one up.

Buying a helmet is much like buying anything that is important to you. You should choose a helmet based on its ability to do the job it’s intended for, regardless of whether or not it’s to satisfy a law or if you want the best protection available. First you need to decide about the things that matter to you. There are a number of items that are important in finding a helmet that suits you. Snell recommends the following no matter what helmet you buy:

Fit – Make sure that the size and shape of the helmet are suited to your head. Sizing in helmets, even many of the numerical sizes may not be consistent from brand to brand or even model to model. Additionally make sure the retaining system is effective comfortable and easy to use.

Comfort – Make sure the helmet is as comfortable to wear as possible. It is likely to be on your head for a while and it should not become so annoying that you are distracted from the important task of riding safely. Also, choose an appropriate helmet for the type of riding you will do most frequently and the environment you’re riding in. Full face helmets offer a measure of protection from impacts to the face, and flying debris like cigarette butts and gravel as well as helping to avoid the dreaded insectus dentus adhesion affliction, or “Bug Tooth Syndrome”. Full face helmets do tend to retain more heat though which is a consideration as well.

Style – This may seem trivial and not related to safety, but it does have it’s place. Get a helmet you like. For many riding is a big part of their life. It’s not just transportation, but also an important recreational activity, even a lifestyle. It is common sense to conclude that a rider is more likely to consistently wear something he or she likes rather than something that they do not.

Safety – The only thing that can be added is that Snell has been concerning itself solely with helmets and head protection for over fifty years. Our focus does not include trying to sell you a helmet, trying to require you wear a helmet or trying to limit the innovation of helmets. For years Snell has merely tried to educate consumers about the importance of a good helmet and point riders who are concerned with protecting the stuff between their ears toward helmets that perform to the Snell standards.

A big argument over how often to replace your helmet takes place everyday across the globe, having seen recommendation as early as 2 yrs and some suggestions of 5 yrs., Whatever your take one reasoning holds true, “Your Helmet should be no more than 5 years old”. According to The Snell Foundation:

“The five-year replacement recommendation is based on a consensus by both helmet manufacturers and the Snell Foundation. Glues, resins and other materials used in helmet production can affect liner materials. Hair oils, body fluids and cosmetics, as well as normal “wear and tear” all contribute to helmet degradation. Petroleum based products present in cleaners, paints, fuels and other commonly encountered materials may also degrade materials used in many helmets possibly degrading performance. Additionally, experience indicates there will be a noticeable improvement in the protective characteristic of helmets over a five-year period due to advances in materials, designs, production methods and the standards. Thus, the recommendation for five-year helmet replacement is a judgment call stemming from a prudent safety philosophy. “